Lancaster residents join anti-fracking demo in Manchester

A Lancaster councillor told protestors at an anti-fracking demo in Manchester that Lancashire has been “betrayed by the government”.

Speaking onstage at the march and protest on Saturday, November 12, Green Party County Coun Gina Dowding, who represents Lancaster Central, said that “civil society is rising up in Lancashire” after Theresa May’s government overturned the county council’s decision to say no to fracking.

Residents from the Lancaster district also attended the protest, which attracted around 2,000 people from across the country.

Kevin Frea, director of Halton Hydro and Lancaster CoHousing, said: “There are so many better alternatives to fracking, using our own natural resources, such as waste food, which can be converted to biogas. Currently, farmers will use slurry from cows to produce methane which can power a generator.

“But only five, per cent of gas on the national grid is from biogas. Half of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is from heating, which is largely gas powered in this country.

We really need to decarbonise our heating system, either by switching to electricity or switching to producing gas from waste and crops grown for that purpose.”

Andy Burnham also spoke at the event. He said: ““How is it right that Westminster rides roughshod over the rights of communities? We will stand up against it. The message will go out that it’s not coming here without a fight.”

County Coun Dowding said: “Lancashire County Council was betrayed by this government. Brave councillors deliberated over this decision and came out against fracking.

“We have civil society rising up in Lancashire. This is about holding our leadership to account. The Northern Powerhouse must be powered by clean, green renewable energy, providing new green jobs. Leaders need to respect the science of climate change. We know what’s coming if we don’t respect the facts. Science doesn’t negotiate. We need to build a green future because our lives depend on it.”

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid approved plans for fracking at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site at Little Plumpton in early October.

A second site, Roseacre Wood, has not yet been given the green light amid concerns over the impact on the area.